A HOUSING expert has criticised a recent newspaper report listing Coventry as a top location for foreign property investors seeking a tax haven.

Harvey Williams, the Coventry and Warwickshire spokesman for the RICS, has branded the article – in particular the headline – in the Sunday Times as confusing.

The article stated that overseas buyers, including non-domiciles, poured their money into regional towns and cities – claiming Coventry is luring million of pounds from Jersey. Mr Williams believes the piece ‘singles out’ Coventry despite figures showing other cities and regions with a significantly higher number of off-shore purchases in 2011.

“The first thing that struck me in this article is why are they targeting Coventry, especially in the headline which states ‘Non-doms target tax haven Coventry’ when there are many more locations with higher levels. In my own personal opinion, it seems very confusing and I don’t understand why they have singled out the city. The figures show that in central London there was 237 properties purchased last year, followed by 86 in Manchester and many others.

“Coventry is further down and is listed as having 18 properties, which leaves me with no idea as to why they targeted Coventry.”